The Expression And Significance Of HIF, VEGF, MEF2C In Articular Cartilage Of Osteoarthritis Patients

Objective: To observe the expression of hypoxia inducible factor(HIF-1α,HIF-2α,HIF-3α)/ vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and MEF2 C in chondrocytes of articular cartilages in human osteoarthritis(OA),and explore the role of HIF,VEGF and MEF2 C in the pathogenesis of OA.Methods: Articular cartilage specimens were obtained from 8 patients with OA undergoing total knee joint replacement.Besides,articular cartilage specimens from 8 patients undergoing amputation for bone malignant neoplasms of femur proximal end and shaft of femur were served as control group.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to defect the expression of HIF-1α,HIF-2α,HIF-3α,VEGF and MEF2 C in the chondrocytes of articular cartilages,and the numbers of chondrocytes with positive expression were counted.Western blot was conducted to evaluate the expression levels of HIF-1α,HIF-2α,HIF-3α,VEGF and MEF2 C in articular cartilages of each group.Results: Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the numbers of chondrocytes with positive expression of HIF-1α,HIF-2α,or HIF-3α in OA group(4.81 ± 0.62,4.81 ± 0.62,and 5.67 ± 0.32,5.34±0.71,respectively)were significantly higher than those in control group(0.78 ± 0.14,2.37 ± 0.68,and 2.02 ± 0.45,1.59±0.65,respectively)(P <0.05).Western blot revealed that the expression levels of HIF-1α,HIF-2α,HIF-3α,VEGF and MEF2 C in OA group were significantly higher than those in control group(P <0.05).Conclusion: The expression of HIF-1α,HIF-2α,HIF-3α protein,VEGF and MEF2 C increases in chondrocytes of articular cartilages of OA,and the HIF and VEGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of OA.The increasing expression of HIF was positively correlated with the increasing expression of HIF,which indicated that HIF could regulate the expression of VEGF in the pathogenesis of OA.MEF2 C may play a role in the pathogenesis of OA.